The Stages Of Cocaine Addiction

Here are the stages of how someone can develop a cocaine addiction.

1. Experimental Stage – During this stage a person uses cocaine out of curiosity, the same reason why most people who use a drug for the first time, they use it out of curiosity. However, this curiosity can lead to an addiction based on a number of variables. The person uses cocaine to experience a positive or pleasant feeling. Relationships and employment remain intact and the person mainly uses cocaine in social gatherings. In fact, one’s social or work performance may actually improve due to the cocaine use. Although this may lead to the person using cocaine on a regular basis because they are impressed with the effects of cocaine.

2. Compulsive Stage – Now the person is using cocaine on a regular basis to get the effects from the experimental stage. However, like most drugs the brain becomes use to the drug and the person eventually has to increase the dosage to get the same desired effects. This results in the user becoming dependent on cocaine. The user, or addict at this point, starts using cocaine more frequently and associating with other cocaine users. The addict now takes cocaine anytime, alone or around others. Similar to the withdrawal effects of heroin use, the addict now takes cocaine to prevent the negative effects of depression, mood swings, and irritability. Relationships, work, and health begin to suffer. Cocaine addicts don’t get much sleep or eat due to the effects of the drug. Powder cocaine is pretty expensive, so the addict begins to suffer financially after spending tons of money on obtaining the drug.

3. Dysfunctional Stage – The cocaine addiction is in full control. The addict is totally preoccupied with obtaining and using cocaine. Nothing else matters. Addicts resort to criminal behavior to pay for their habit, which includes theft, robbery, and selling cocaine. Female crack addicts engage in prostitution to pay for their habits. Some female crack addicts engage in prostitution in crack houses where they are paid or given crack instead of money in exchange for sexual favors. The cocaine addiction leads to the person becoming completely separated from family and friends, unable to hold a job, and experiencing serious health problems. Severe cocaine addiction can result in violent behavior due to paranoia, psychosis, delusions, and hallucinations. Like a heroin addict, the cocaine addict’s physical appearance and hygiene starts to deteriorate. Eventually, the cocaine addiction becomes overbearing and so out of control that the person will seek treatment. Most cocaine addicts, like other addicts, go through a number of failed recovery attempts before they completely overcome the cocaine addiction. Cocaine addiction can cause fatal heart attacks and other fatal heart ailments. Also, other serious health problems can result in death from cocaine addiction.

First Name:

Last Name:

Age:

Gender:

State:

City:

Phone:

Email:

Describe the situation:

Cocaine Facts

Cocaine users are smoking a freebase form of the substance termed Crack (so named for the "crackling" sound produced when the mixture of cocaine and sodium bicarbonate is heated). Whether cocaine is used by injecting, snorting or smoking the same risks are involved. However, the onset of addiction may be much more rapid in the smoked form.

Cocaine users have been known to contract HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. Blurred vision is a common side effect. Women users are susceptible to miscarriage, or if they carry to term, serious birth defects often occur.

Cocaine usually comes as a white, powder-like substance diluted ("cut") with sugar, crushed vitamins, flour, cornstarch and other powders. Crack comes in small "rocks," which are inserted into a pipe.

Cocaine withdrawal may not be as physically challenging as other drugs. However, withdrawal from any drug addiction is a very serious issue and should be treated that way. There is a risk of suicide or compensatory overdose while one is going though cocaine withdrawal.

Cocaine withdrawal symptoms include: Extreme irritability sluggishness nausea disorganized thinking. Although these symptoms may cause discomfort for a brief period of time, the benefits for a person who stops using the drug greatly outweigh an addiction to cocaine.

Cocaine withdrawal takes place when a cocaine addict stops using the drug. Withdrawal from cocaine often has no visible physical symptoms like the vomiting and shaking that commonly accompanies the withdrawal from heroin or alcohol. Someone suffering with cocaine withdrawal symptoms will experience strong cravings for more cocaine, fatigue, lack of pleasure, anxiety, irritability, sleepiness, and sometimes agitation or extreme suspicion.

Cocaine, more than any other drug of abuse, has direct and immediate access to the brain's pleasure center. It causes disruption in the delicate chemistry that regulates mood, pleasure and survival drive. Some users of cocaine report feelings of restlessness, irritability, and anxiety.